Improvement in devices for separating eyelets



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llt Bc Ny PETERS, FHOTO-LITNOGRAPHER. WASMlNGTON, D C.

STEPHEN N. SMITH AND SOLOMON W.`YOUNG, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNO-RS TO UNION EYELET COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

Letters Patent No. 112,086, dated February 21, 1871.

The Schedule referred to inithese Letters Patent maklng part of the same.

paratus embodying our said improvement.

Y Figure 2 is a plan, showing theinterior or bottom of the sieve S, hereinafter mentioned, asvthe means for separating said eyelets.

Figures 3 4 5, exhibit modifications ofthe shape of the perfor-ationsl in the bottom ofthe said sieve, for peribrming the separating operation.

Similar letters of reference indicate' Vcorresponding parts in all theigures. 1 y' i In the process of enameling or blacking eyelets, a large quantity is immersed in a -black enamel varnish, which deposits a glossy black coating upon each, and these are afterward baked in an oven orotherwisc subjected toahigh degree of heat, to thoroughly dry and harden the -varnish and complete the black finish, and, on account of the eyelets being thus finished in a mass, they are liable to adhere tofeach other in\bnnches of twos and threes,'which, it' not separated before being put into the package in which they are sold, are inconvenient for use, especially in the automatically Vfeeding and inserting machines that are generally employed by large consumers for inserting the eyelets rapidly'in boots and shoes, and other articles in which such eyelets are used.`

To separate these eyelets when a large proportion, as

is frequently the case, stick together, by manual labor is obviously costly and impracticable, and the object of our said invention is therefore to provide mechanical means for separating said eyelets one from an'- other, so that a mass or large quantity can bcoperated upon, and the eyelets delivered single and separate, in proper'form and condition to be used in the automatic machinery alluded t'o or any other; and

Our invention for this purpose consists in the use of a sieve with a sheet-metal bottom, in which are peculiar-ibrmcd perforations, that will not'onl y admit the single separated cyelet to pass through, but will retain and prevent the passage of any two or more that may bc stuck together.

lu the drawingl S is thc sieve, which, as shown in tig. 1, may be mounted on slides M, in the upper part of va box or receptacle, A, and operated with a rapid reciprocating movement upon the said slides by means of a pitman,l P, and crank F, or other suitable mechanism.

The bottom of the said sieve is of sheet metal, and its entire surface is perforated with holes'that are shaped like the section of the cyelet as it is out through the center, so that the single eyelets will easily pass through as they naturally lie upon their side, as shown in iig. 2, while it will be impossible for even a single eyelet to pass through endwise, and equally impossible for either one or two eyelets, that may be stuck together, to pass through the perforation that is of a size and shape for passing one eyelet singly. y

The eyelets are turned into thissieve in a. mass, so that they occupy a depth of from one to two inches upon the bottom, and being rapidly shaken, all the separated eyelets readily pass 'through the perforatious intolthe receptacle A below, while at the same time those, which adhereto each other become, by shakiugrand stiring motion of the mass, separated, and iinally pass lthrough the perforations; also, so

that all at last become separated and are deposited in the box below ready to be' put in packages for sale.

Instead of the shape of perforar-ion shown in iig. 3,

that shown in fig. 4 may be used, in which side notches t t a-rc cnt at both ends ofthe perforation, so that the llarger iiangeend of the eyelet can readily pass through either end of the said perforation, as it may chance to present itself or the perforation may be shaped as shown in Viig. 5, with a notch, t t, 85o., at veach corner, by means of which the ange end of' the eyelet may-pass through in either of four positions in which it may present, itself, and by reason of the greater number of positions in which the -eyelet may thus .pass through such perforations, the greater number will pass through in a given time, and the operation ably facilitated, without however permitting the passage of more than one at a time through any single perforation.

Instead of a sieve, of the form shown in the drawing, a closed cylinder, pierced with the perforations described, may be employed, and by revolving the same slowly, the veyelets inclosed within will, by the continual agitation of the same thus produced, become separated from each other and be delivered singly from the cylinder through the perforations 1n the manner already explained.

Having described Lour invention and its modifi-v cations,

What wc claim, and desire to secure by Letters Pat- A sieve, the apertures of which correspond in size and shape with the form or outline` of a single cyelet, whereby the eyelets are caused to pass singly through said apertures when agitated, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto subscribed our namesthis 7th day of July, A. D. 1869.

STEPHEN N.`SMITH. SOLOMON W. YOUNG.

Witnesses: A IsAAo A. BROWNELL, WILLIAM BROWNELL.

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